Manser, Harvey and Yacobacci Compete at ECAC

Courtesy: ICGaels.com

Release: 02/25/2012

Related

ANNAPOLIS, MD - Fresh off a high energy Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Swimming and Diving Championships last weekend in Buffalo, three of Iona College’s top swimmers set their sights on the Olympic distance 50-Meter racing course at the US Naval Academy for the 2012 ECAC Championships in Annapolis on Thursday.

The trio of senior Jamie Manser and junior Theresa Harvey and junior Chris Yacobacci were all hoping to qualify for the USA Swimming Olympic selection meet at the Quest Center in Omaha, Nebraska for the July London Olympiad.

“This was very challenging, both physically and mentally, for our athletes, coming out of the high pressure and energy MAAC Championships,” commented Head Coach Nick Cavataro, “but I’m proud of their efforts and clearly now they know what they need to do in the three months before the qualification period ends”.

Manser swam the 100-Breaststroke race twice Thursday posting times of 1:14.01 and 1:13.63. The Olympic Trial standard is 1:12.19. She will now awaits word from the Women’s NCAA Division 1 Championship meet slated for March 15-17 in Auburn, as to whether or not her MAAC gold medal and record breaking 100-yard Breaststroke performance of 1:01.53, will make the elite field.

“I know that Jamie wants to qualify and feels it would be a great career and personal achievement,” noted Cavataro.

Harvey raced in the 50-Meter Free and posted an effort of 27.76. Harvey also swam the 100-Meter Freestyle and posted a time of 1:00.54

“Theresa has very limited experience racing in the Olympic Course of 50-Meters. With our 25-yard pool and her volleyball commitment, it will be a challenge; but, I think she could get it if everything lined up perfectly.” Cavataro said.

Yacobacci, the MAAC double gold medalist in the 100 and 200-yard breaststroke, suffered a freak eye injury in warm-ups as his racing goggles snapped moments before the race into his eye and posted a time of 2:30.66, which was 10 seconds over the trial time of 2:20.79.

Later in the competition, the junior swam the 100-Meter Breast and posted a time of 1:06.26, just 1.5 seconds away from the Trial standard of 1:04.69.

“I think Chris is in a similar situation as Jamie, the target is there and the base work is there, it is just a matter of lining up everything in the next few months in our post-season training sessions,” noted Cavataro.